PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF METHYLENE BLUE USING CALCIUM OXIDE

Abstract

The present study involves the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by heterogeneous photocatalytic process using Calcium oxide (CaO) as semiconductor. Progress of the reaction was recorded spectrophotometerically. The effect of various operational parameters such as pH, concentration of dye, amount of semiconductor and light intensity have been studied. Kinetic studies reveal that the photocatalytic process follows pseudo-first order kinetics. A tentative mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was proposed.